The Tottenham Hotspur academy has produced one of the greatest footballers of all time in recent years.
Harry Kane rose through the ranks at Spurs to become a star within the team, excelling at Bayern Munich and going on to become both England’s all-time leading goalscorer and captain.
Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks are just two of the players that Tottenham’s development system has lately developed and are having successful careers at Spurs or abroad.
Who might be the next Tottenham academy alum to graduate and go on to succeed now that 2024 is almost here?The Boot Room examines three exceptional Spurs players.
Alfie Dorrington
The 18-year-old defender Alfie Dorrington has been a key component of Tottenham’s undefeated start to the Premier League 2 campaign.
The 6′ 5in giant has participated in all nine league games for Spurs Under-21, winning nine of them while maintaining five clean sheets.
Dorrington has spent five years at Tottenham and has advanced through the ranks swiftly. After being elevated to the Under-21 team last year, he already appears to be a step above.
The player is a “tall center-half with skill on the ball that is so good that he could easily play in midfield,” according to Tottenham youth team analyst Superhotspur.
Alfie is, in my opinion, one of the best center halves in the Spurs Academy lineup that I have ever seen, Superhotspur said.
Although Dorrington hasn’t made his debut yet, it seems likely that he will play in the FA Cup or in the last stretch of the regular season. The next term, an EFL loan might then be possible.
Rio Kyerematen
Prior to the 2023–24 season, 18-year-old midfielder Rio Kyerematen was promoted to the Under-21 team.
The eight-year-old joined Tottenham at an early age and has worked his way up through the ranks to be on the periphery of the first team.
At the Under-18 level, Kyerematen has amassed some impressive stats over the past two seasons.
He recorded five goals and seven assists from 17 appearances in 2022–2023 and seven goals and four assists from 27 appearances in 2021–2022.
“A versatile midfield player who can play as a defensive-midfielder, a central-midfielder, and as a CAM, Rio Kyerematen is highly skilled with the ball,” Superhotspur wrote last year.
“The player… likes to go on surging and skillful forward runs with the ball from midfield. He is very capable of going past players with great skill.”
When Kyerematen was just 16 years old, Antonio Conte elevated him to first-team training, and Ange Postecoglou has continued to do the same this season.
According to Dorrington, he hasn’t made his Spurs debut yet, but it wouldn’t be shocking if he did so before going on loan to the EFL for the upcoming season.
Jamie Donley
The 18-year-old attacker Jamie Donley has already made his Tottenham debut. He has, in fact, played for Spurs in two senior roles.
In December, the young player made his Premier League debut against Newcastle United and Manchester City, coming off the bench.
For a man who has been putting up exceptional numbers for the Under-21s this season, it was a fitting reward. in particular, six goals and twelve helpers from just twelve games.
Superhotspur wrote back in November 2021: “I find Jamie to be a lot like Troy Parrott when we were the same age.
“In these very early days, in how creative he is with the ball and also in his willingness to drop deep to get on the ball to try and create chances.”
Donley is a flexible player who has made appearances this season at several spots. He’s filled in as a left winger, center forward, offensive midfielder, and second striker.
In October, Dean Jones told GiveMeSport that Tottenham insiders believe the “amazing” prospect will make his first-team debut in the near future.
“Though it’s early in the game, sources close to Spurs feel there’s a real chance he gets lifted off the field this season,” he stated.
“Jamie Donley, he’s one of our own!” is a new chant that may not take long to catch on at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It will be intriguing to watch if Donley stays at Hotspur Way for the remainder of the season or if Postecoglou decides to loan him out to a team in the EFL so he can get first-team experience.
